Atlantic Health System Public Relations Department

Morristown, NJ, October 2013 – The Atlantic Accountable Care Organization was recently named among the 2013 list of “100 Accountable Care Organizations to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review, one of the health care industry’s leading publications.

The prestigious list recognizes hospitals, health systems and physician groups that have made great strides to coordinate care and lower costs by becoming Medicare and/or commercial ACOs.

The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team selected ACOs for inclusion based on the number of physicians involved and lives covered, as well as lifespan of the ACO, whether it has risk-based arrangements with multiple payers and whether it recently struck new agreements with payers. Organizations' participation in the Medicare Pioneer ACO program and recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance were also considered.

The Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the largest ACOs in the nation, was selected in 2012 to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) Accountable Care Organization, a multifaceted new program sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) designed to enhance quality care, improve patient access and help reduce the growth in health care expenditures. The ACO’s provider network is comprised of more than 1,400 participating physicians and its member hospitals; Morristown Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center and Valley Hospital, serving Bergen, Morris, Sussex, Passaic, Union, Somerset and Warren counties. The Atlantic ACO cares for nearly 100,000 Medicare and Commercial Insurance enrollees.

“Our accomplishments have put us on the forefront of the new focus on health care coordination and delivery. We are pleased to be recognized for the combined efforts of our ACO physicians, hospitals and allied health organizations,” said David R. Gross, executive director of the Atlantic ACO.

Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute performs more heart surgeries than any other hospital in New York or New Jersey, and is one of 20 facilities across the country to perform catheter-based repair and replacement of valves on both sides of the heart. Atlantic Health System’s spine program – where surgeons perform more spine surgery than anywhere else in New Jersey – is one of just 13 hospitals across the country that has received the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission, achieving Disease-Specific Care Certification for cervical and lumbar spine treatments. With the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute based at Overlook Medical Center, the hospital serves as the hub for the New Jersey Stroke Network, and serves about 40 percent of the state’s stroke patients. The system’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital offers more than 100 board-certified physicians in 20 pediatric specialties. Morristown Medical Center is verified as a Level I Regional Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons and designated a Level II by the state of New Jersey.

Atlantic Health System has been chosen for the past five consecutive years by FORTUNE® as one of the magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®.” The organization has also been recognized six times by AARP as one of the “Best Employers for Workers over 50.” Inside Jersey magazine partnered with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. and ranked Morristown Medical Center in 2013 as the No. 1 hospital in New Jersey and the No. 1 hospital in the state for treatment of heart failure, coronary surgery, hip and knee repair, treatment of breast, prostate and pediatric cancers and treatment of stroke. In 2013, U.S. News & World Report ranked Morristown Medical Center as a top hospital nationwide for cardiology and heart surgery, gynecology and geriatric care, in the publication’s annual Best Hospitals list. Morristown Medical Center also ranked among the best hospitals in New Jersey and as a “Best Regional Hospital” for Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinilogy, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Orthopedics as well as Gastroenterology and GI surgery, Nephrology, Pulmonology and Urology. U.S. News & World Report ranked Overlook Medical Center in 2013 among the best hospitals in central New Jersey and as a “Best Regional Hospital” for Neurology and Neurosurgery as well as Gastroenterology and GI surgery, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Nephrology, Pulmonology and Urology. Atlantic Health System is an affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.